Pages

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Yes, my husband and I continue to wear our pre-vegan clothing that isn't vegan. Apparently, we aren't 'advertising' for vegans, I've been told.

I don't live my life for advertising or other people's opinion of me. MY life is about love. It's about intention. It's about the energy of those things.

If someone was to ask me about my down-filled coat I would tell them how ashamed I am of that coat. And why. I believe it would be a learning experience. I might feel different about a fur or leather coat but I am still vegan and still a good person. Not to mention, there's the cost factor. I can't afford two brand new winter coats, willy nilly.

We considered ourselves vegan from the moment we decided NOT to vote for cruelty, torture, rape and murder of our animal friends, with our money. But, we still ate the animal products we had in the fridge.

Same with clothing. Although I am ashamed that I contributed to it ever, I did. But, it's too late now and wearing it or not isn't going to change that.

It is my opinion that nobody can be 100% vegan. Drywall isn't vegan. Vehicle tires aren't vegan. Many plastic bags aren't vegan. Vaccinations.... I'm sure I could go on and on.

According to vegan nazi logic we should give up the Lab we bought from a breeder before we were vegan and the birds from a pet store. For the sake of 'vegan advertising'?? No thanks!!

It is the attempt that matters (to me).

As long as you aren't hurting anyone NOW what you decide to do is your own business and we won't take your 'vegan card' away. The vegan police/nazis can leave the vegans alone who are in it for the right reason.

Yesterday, I was on a facebook vegan group and a few others and I were getting bashed. By other vegans! That's right, it seems that some vegans are into it for the animals and some to feel superior to others.

My position is that as long as you are making a conscious effort to NOT harm animals in any way then you are vegan. I still wear my non-vegan clothing from pre-vegan times. The damage has already been done. I voted with my dollars to Hearn animals back when I didn't know better but wearing them NOW doesn't hurt animals NOW.

Some choose to give away or sell the items and that is their choice. It makes no difference to the already harmed animal. They get points for doing their BEST in the moment.

Needless to say, it didn't make me feel any better that holier than thou vegans were against me. Maybe because I thought they were good people and now I was disappointed in them..? Maybe I felt less than..? Who knows but I also had an awful lot of supportive people by my side. People who said they couldn't afford to replace all their vegan items. People who said it was personal choice/opinion.

Then, I watched a YouTube video of one of my favourite vegans, 'Durian Rider'. What would he say, "fuck em". He and 'Freelee the banana girl' have a lot of haters. Great people always do. The photo below was at the end of the video, seemingly just for me. Now, I feel better. All I needed was a different perspective.

From a 'Durian Rider' YouTube video
Found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W5_11u4Xwg

^^ Me getting a different perspective. ^^

“It's a pretty amazing to wake up every morning, knowing that every decision I make is to cause as little harm as possible. It's a pretty fantastic way to live.” ― Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

I am excited to announce my first guest post, my husband!! We get asked all the time to tell our story. I posted the quick version earlier tonight but here is his story...

My story

Yes, I spent over 20 years in the farming industry (mainly dairy) , I was born and raised in it. I also was raised a trapper in my early years and was an avid hunter as well for about 30 years.

I married a vegetarian 5 years ago, she never forced her views on me just gave insight every now and then. A few years ago I saw a picture of pigs being hauled out of Toronto and people (activists) were giving them water through the holes in the trailer at the Toronto livestock exchange. It was that picture that started it all for me.

I am a heavy construction worker and I mainly work on the highway 401 (longest highway in Ontario). The same day the picture was taken there was a bad accident just up from our job site, it was -34c and the traffic was getting backed up to us.

I was running a machine that day and I had the heat cranked and was still bundled up, the traffic had come to a complete stop, I looked beside me on the highway and there way a tractor trailer hauling pigs to Quebec. That was the day I made the connection. These poor animals are being sent to their deaths, it -34 and they are freezing! My heart sank , I told myself that was it and I never looked back.

My wife, daughter and I are vegan for life. (Vegan since March 1, 2014)~Chris Mills

People have often asked for the story of how my family and I went vegan... here is the quick version.

I ate only fish for 13 yrs and no other flesh when I met and married Chris. He hunted when I met him (about 30 yrs) and (dairy) farmed (for 20 years) before meeting me.

I was always in awe of vegans but learned more about the reasons to be vegan through my 13 yrs of being one step from vegetarian, where I originally stopped eating flesh because of the hormones and bleach involved.

Chris stopped eating all flesh,except fish, about 2 yrs ago and all 3 of us have been vegan for 7 mths as of Nov 1st. And will be forever now. For the animals.

First & foremost a mom, wife, home manager and vegan. Kim is also the author of, "Prenatal Yoga: For Body, Mind and Spirit", a 500-hour certified yogi, certified meditation facilitator, barefoot/minimalist runner, reiki master and business owner.

Kim has been studying holistic health pretty much her whole life. Herbal classes and Therapeutic Touch led to her becoming a Reiki Master and acquiring a 500-hour certification in Yoga (Retired after 7 years of teaching) and then also a certification in meditation. Kim sells natural and spiritual products to aid in meditation and her artistic work.

She and her family became vegan March 2014 and she now offer assistance in getting started with a more compassionate and mindful way of living.

Her yoga eBook was published to Amazon Kindle in 2015.

Check out the wellness on her website, her creative works for sale and her inspiring blog posts..